“Goodbye to the old days,” Nikki Giovanni wrote in a book.
People talk about how NBA All-Star Games used to be more competitive. They want players to try harder. But times have changed. Today’s players are more athletic and play a tough schedule. The All-Star Game is more for fun now.
The NBA has tried many things to make the All-Star Game exciting again. But it’s hard to make an exhibition game competitive. This year, they had a mini-tournament format, but it didn’t make much of a difference. The real competition comes in the playoffs, not in an All-Star Game.
Next year, the NBA could honor the Harlem Globetrotters and the New York Renaissance team. These historic teams were important in basketball history. This could be a way to recognize Black history in basketball.
Learning about the history of these teams might make players take the game more seriously. It would be a meaningful tribute and a way to celebrate the Black men who played for these iconic teams.
The All-Star Game is just for fun, but honoring these teams would be a powerful tribute to basketball history.
Vocabulary List:
- Competitive /kəmˈpɛtɪtɪv/ (adjective): Involving competition; able to compete.
- Exhibition /ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃən/ (noun): A public display or demonstration of something.
- Tribute /ˈtrɪbjuːt/ (noun): An act statement or gift intended to show gratitude respect or admiration.
- Athletic /æθˈlɛtɪk/ (adjective): Physically strong fit and active.
- Recognize /ˈrɛkəɡnaɪz/ (verb): Identify or acknowledge something or someone as being valid or important.
- Meaningful /ˈmiːnɪŋfəl/ (adjective): Having significance or purpose.
How much do you know?
According to the text, how have NBA All-Star Games changed over time?
What did the NBA try to make the All-Star Game exciting again this year?
What could be a way to recognize Black history in basketball according to the text?
What is the main purpose of the All-Star Game according to the text?
How does the text suggest players might react to learning about the historic teams?
What would honoring the historic teams be according to the text?
According to the text, NBA All-Star Games used to be more competitive.
The real competition in basketball comes during the All-Star Game according to the text.
Next year, the NBA plans to honor the Miami Heat team.
The main focus of the All-Star Game is now entertainment rather than competition.
The historic teams mentioned, Harlem Globetrotters and New York Renaissance, were important in basketball history.
Learning about the history of iconic basketball teams may not impact players’ seriousness towards the game as per the text.
The NBA All-Star Game used to be more , but now it's more for fun.
The real competition in basketball comes in the , not in an All-Star Game.
Next year, the NBA could honor the Harlem Globetrotters and the New York Renaissance team to recognize in basketball.
Learning about the history of these teams might make players take the game more .
Honoring these historic teams would be a powerful tribute to basketball .
The All-Star Game is just for , but honoring these teams would be meaningful.
